Ashley K Ledda

Despite specializing in the issues and difficulties outlined in the Who I see and How I can help sections, I understand that each individual responds to their particular stressors and circumstances differently.
As a result, I tailor my therapeutic approach and interventions to the individual needs of each of my clients.
I see clients for individual, family, and couples therapy.
When first beginning therapy with a new client, I take some time to familiarize them with the therapeutic process and give them an idea about what they can expect from treatment.

I am grateful that every day that I go to work, I have the opportunity to create a safe and welcoming space where my clients are able to share their emotions and experiences in order to grow, heal, and improve the quality of their lives.
I am here to guide and support my clients through self- exploration, discovery, and compassion.
I am passionate about empowering my clients so that they are able to make peace with their past, better cope with the stressors that they may be facing, and see themselves for who they truly are and what they are truly capable of.

I received my undergraduate degree in Psychology at California State University, Long Beach.
As a part of my undergraduate studies, I was part of a research team studying how the presence or lack of social support following rape and/or sexual assault affects a survivor's well-being and ability to heal.
During this time, I was also the coordinator of the children's program of a local homeless shelter for families.
This program offered afterschool and weekend educational and recreational activities for the children and adolescents who lived in the shelter.

I specialize in working with individuals who are experiencing issues related to their mood and stress level, including various Anxiety, Bipolar, and Depressive Disorders.
I also specialize in working with those who have experienced some type of trauma, including abuse, neglect, sexual assault, and domestic violence.
In addition, I focus on difficulties related to work, school, and relationships, as well as difficulties involving life transitions and grief and loss.
I am very passionate about helping people attend to their self-care, improve their self-esteem, and meet the goals that they have set for themselves.

Unfortunately, there is no way to avoid occasional stress in life whether it's related to work, health, family, school, finances, or relationships.
It's important that we all learn how to better cope with our day to day stressors, and therapy is a great way to learn additional tools and techniques to help manage our stress and anxiety.
Sometimes anxiety can become so severe that it consumes your thoughts, making it difficult to focus during the day and sleep at night.
Anxiety can also be expressed physically in the form of a panic attack, where one experiences symptoms such as increased heart rate and changes in their breathing.